The women beat Russian Federation by a stunning 8.2 points, bettering the five points of four years ago.
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It marks the start of what could be a gold rush for the 19-year-old Biles, who is bidding to become the first gymnast to win five gold medals at a single Games. But they weren’t yet used to winning at that level, not quite accustomed to dominating the rest of the world.
The American women captured their second consecutive Olympic team title in grand fashion Tuesday night at the Rio Olympic Arena. They laughed together. And they barely looked up.
But despite those glitches, the “Final Five” soared so far out of sight of their rivals that the other teams must have felt they needed to board a supersonic jet to catch them.
One of the great highlights of this victory was Simone Biles’ excellence on the balance beam, where she leaped, flipped and contorted her way to a terrific 15.300 score that essentially locked down gold.
The triumph was never in doubt, their score of 184.897 at the Rio Games was more than eight points clear of the field. That was more than double the gap between silver and last place.
“I think that was the only time, probably”, Karolyi said.
Those comparisons are apt, but even among the great teams the Americans stand out. Since 1976, no country has won five consecutive team titles at major global competitions. “We got this.’ They motivated me to do my best because I saw their routines”. Since winning team gold in London in 2012, Team USA won team gold at the world championships in 2011, 2014 and 2015. “Dominant” is somehow an understatement as to just how truly incredible Team USA has been during the last four years. “So we should carry ourselves that way, not be scared and shaky because we have that pressure”. The Americans were the two-time reigning world champions. It means competition routines every day in the gym in the lead-up to these Games.
“It’s just that auto pilot or push the button and go”, said Karolyi. “Basically, they’re just so much automatic”. The only moment of tension on Tuesday came early. Aly Raisman. Gabby Douglas.
Madison Kocian did her job as specialist on parallel bars, the US team’s weakest event sticking her full twisting double back dismount for 15.933. “That’s what we were aiming for”, summed up China’s Shang Chunsong.
Lauren Hernandez and Madison Kocian joined Biles in taking home a gold from their first Olympics. With Hernandez, their youngest member, leading off with a Yurchenko double full, all three USA vaulters earned execution marks of 9.300 or higher.
“We’ve put so much training behind this and I don’t think we could have been any more prepared”, said Biles, “so the outcome is just fantastic that we finally have the gold”. “You can see the Chinese gymnasts and other countries follow the old way of being thin and they are still slow to change”.
This particular team came into the Olympics with high expectations and more than met them.
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The Americans stand to collect more medals this week. Douglas won the all-around gold in 2012 and finished third in Rio qualifying, but because rules prohibit more than two gymnasts per nation competing in the all-around individual competition, Douglas will be excluded.
